Disciplinary action for Sabres’ players should be reviewed

With Bruins’ defenseman Zdeno Chara now cleared to play in Game 6 in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals, Colin Campbell and the NHL should still review the video footage of last night’s near-melee that occurred between the B’s and Sabres.

With less than a second remaining in the game in last night’s 4-1 loss, (watch video here), Buffalo’s Paul Gaustad decided it would be a good idea to slash the back of Chara’s legs/skates. What unfolded was Chara dropping the gloves with Gaustad, while defensemen Craig Rivet and — AHL call-up — Cody McCormick were the third- and fourth-men in the altercation.

Here’s what the NHL rules says about the third man in who intervene in a fight:

“47.16 Third Man In – A game misconduct penalty, at the discretion of the Referee, shall be imposed on any player or goalkeeper who is the first to intervene (third man in) in an altercation already in progress except when a match penalty is being imposed in the original altercation. This penalty is in addition to any other penalties incurred in the same incident.